PCCA Journal 3rd Quarter 2013 - page 24

PCCA Journal|3
rd
Quarter 2013
24
P
CCA is excited to announce that it has booked
former NFL star, current ESPN analyst, and
cancer survivor Merril Hoge as the keynote
speaker at its 69th Annual Convention, March
14-19, 2014, at the Frenchman’s Reef & Morn-
ing Star Marriott Beach Resort on St. Thomas in the U.S.
Virgin Islands.
As a graduate of Idaho State University with a degree in
Education and a minor in Health and Fitness, Merril Hoge
was a four-year football starter and left college with 44
school and conference records and two NCAA records.
Hoge was drafted in 1987 by the Pittsburgh Steelers, where
he played until 1993 and led the team in rushing and receiv-
ing in four of his first five years, setting a record in his third
year for receptions by a running back. In 1993, Hoge went to
the Chicago Bears as a free agent, where he played for one
year, until he was forced to retire early due to post-concus-
sion syndrome. At the time of his retirement, he had played
in 122 consecutive games, the longest streak in the NFL at
that time.
In 1995, Hoge
joined ESPN as a
football analyst,
where he currently
works with Ron Ja-
worski on the high-
ly acclaimed
NFL
Match Up
show. He
has distinguished
himself through his
in-depth knowledge
of both offense and
defense and his
strong relationships
with the coaches
and players in the league. Hoge is also an analyst for the
ESPN shows
NFL Live
,
Sports Center
,
Primetime
, and
NFL
Countdown
.
In 2010, Hoge published his first book, Find A Way. “Find
A Way” has been his philosophy since he was twelve years
old. This philosophy has helped him to attain his goals,
such as playing in the NFL, as
well as overcoming challenges
and setbacks, from death of his
mother when he was young to
having to end his football career
due to head trauma and being
diagnosed with Non-Hodgkin’s
Lymphoma in 2003. He has long
been a sought-after speaker,
sharing his story with audiences
and helping them find ways to
achieve their goals and overcome
their setbacks and challenges.
Since his playing days, Hoge has been on the board of the
Highmark Caring Foundation and is currently chairman of
the board. The Caring Foundation has created four centers for
grieving children, adolescents, and their families, called the
Highmark Caring Place, located in downtown and suburban
Pittsburgh as well as in Erie and Harrisburg, Pa. They are
of particular meaning to Hoge, having lost his own mother
when he was 21 and seeing the effect it had on his then-16-
year-old brother.
PCCA Books NFL Analyst
Merril Hoge for 2014 Convention
2014 PCCA Mid-Year Meeting
Camden on the Lake
Lake Ozark, Missouri
July 23 - 26, 2014
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